Trip Report and Photos

Diving with Ross O. - August 13, 2006

The Wreck of the Ace I, Kelp Paddies, A Hawksbill Turtle,

The Wreck of the Loop, and the L.A. Break wall

Story and Photos © Elaine Jobin, may not be reproduced in part or whole without advanced written permission.

Whoopie, another dive day. This time with Ross O., Beth O. Claudette, and Claudette's husband Ted (Somehow Ted escaped the camera).

We decided that the Ace I would be our first destination. The California Wreck divers have a very good description of this ships history on the Ace I page of their web site

There was some surface current but it was quite calm on the wreck and the visibility was good for some wide angle photos. This wreck has an impressive population of Metridium anemone's.

Beth O. jumped in for a swim and did some free dives to join us on the anchor like for our safety stop.

On our surface interval, we toured some of the area kelp patties. At one Paddy we saw two molas from the boat. The Molas seemed very interested in the boat. When we got in the water to check them out - they split. Under the Patty we found a school of bait fish near the surface and a school of Mackerel under the layer of bait fish.

As we continued our tour of kelp patties we spotted a turtle in the water. After scrutinizing multiple photos of the turtle we believe it was a small Hawksbill.

Beth and Claudette jumped in for a swim with the turtle until he made an evasive dive. They returned to the boat beaming from the experience.

The next dive site was the Wreck of the F.S. Loop. Once again, the California Wreck Divers have an excellent information page on the F.S. Loop

For our last dive we decided on a live boat drift dive along the Break wall. This was my first dive here and I was amazed at just how beautiful it is. Gorgonian fans line the wall in perhaps the thickest concentration that I've ever seen. Kelp grows in the sand near by. I have always wondered where some of the most beautiful photos of underwater Southern California have been taken, and I believe that the break wall might be the spot. Not knowing what awaited, I took the macro cam on this dive. On a future visit, it will definitely be wide angle.

The macro selections weren't too numerous. There were some nudibranchs, some shrimp, small crabs, and an octopus.

Perhaps the most interesting macro find was a Doriopsilla albopunctata with the brown coloration spotted by Ross O.

After Beth picked us up, it was time to call it a day. We returned to the dock, giving the "Black Pearl" one more close inspection.

It was a terrific diving day. We brought our previously work weary selves back ready to face another week. Just check out the change the day made in Ross.

Ross O. Before and After

Until Next Time.........